Interchangeable handle



Oct. 15, 1929. L. KOEN INTERCHANGEABLE HANDLE Filed Dec. 15, 1927 2Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 15, 1929. KOEN 1,731,383

INTERCHANGEABLE HANDLE Filed Dc. 15, 1 27 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I g n KPatented Oct. 15, 1929 PATENT OFFICE LEwKoEN, or wILKEs-BARRE,PENNSYLVANIA INTEBCHANGEABLE HANDLE Application, filed December 15,1927. Serial No. 240,234.

The subject matter of this application relates to handles adapted to bequickly attached to or detached from tools or other implements which arecommonly supplied with fixed handles.

The main object of the invention is to provide a handle'having a centralbody made of wood and shaped conveniently to fit the average hand andhaving metallic parts which can be used repeatedly with similar woodenbodies, which, as is well known are frequently broken and requirereplacement.

Another object of the invention is to form the handle with wearresisting metallic sockets and securing members which are practicallyunbreakable, and to which the cheap wooden handle bodies are adapted tobe very quickly secured whenever it becomes necessary to replace abroken wooden handle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a set of interchangablesocket members, adaptedto be secured to and form part of the handle,which add greatly to the utility of the handle and adapt it for uses 5in many peculiar situations and in many parts.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the detaileddescription proceeds.

In the drawings Figure 1 is an elevation of a hammer, with parts thereofin section, having a detachable handle applied thereto;

Figure 1 is a section on the line 11 of Figure 1;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the handle as appliedto a hack saw;

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of the handle as applied to asoldering iron;

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3Figure 5 is a sectional elevation showing the handle as applied to atrowel or similar I tool Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of thehandle provided with a 90 degree socket member;

Figure 7 is an end elevation of the parts shown in Figure 6;

Figre 8 is a modified form of the invention having a socket formed ateach end to receive the corresponding plugs of tools or otherimplements;

Figure 9 is a longitudinal section of a screw-driver embodying thisinvention;

Figure 10 is a section on the line 1010 of Figure 9; V

Figure 11 is fragmentary section of a handle embodying this inventionand applied to a part of an adjustable wrench having a stub handleformed as a plug adapted to seat in the socket of my handle;

Figure 12 is an elevation illustrating the combined use of the handleshown in Figures 1 and 8 and the different types ofsockets disclosedherein; and,

Figure 13 is a similar elevation illustrating the parts of Figure 12 ina different assembled relation to each other.

As is well known the wooden handles of hammers and similar tools arefrequently broken in use and their replacement is usually a troublesomejob. To obviate this, I have provided a hammer head 1 with a steel rod2, having a tapered end] 3 adapted to fit in a correspondingly taperedsocket 4 in the hammer head 1. The tapered end 3 projects beyond thehead 1 and has an aperture 5 extending therethrough to receive a cotteror other lock pin 6 for locking the head 1 securely to the rod 2.

The rod 2 is preferably polygonal in cross section and has its free endadapted to fit snugly into the socket 7 of a socket member 8. The end ofrod 2 entering socket 7 constitutes a plug 7 for the socket and isprovided in one face thereof with a yieldingly mounted ball 9 adapted tobe forced by spring 10 into a corresponding recess 11 in the rod 2. Thisball and recess construction provides for quick assembling of theconnecting parts and may be supplemented by a set screw 12 screwthreadedinto the socket member 8 and having a point 13 adapted to engage the rod2 and lock it securely in member 8.

The outer end of socket member 8 is tapered to form a frusto conical orpyramidal plug 14 adapted to seat in a corresponding socket 15 formed inone end of a wooden handlel6.

To lock the handle 16 securely to the memher 8, the handle is axiallybored to receive a hollow bolt 17 having one end 18 thereofscrewthreaded or otherwise rigidly connected to the socket member 8.

The other end of handle 16 is provided with a counter bore 18 into whichthe other screw threaded end 19 of bolt 17 projects; and a pair of nuts20 and 21 are threaded on to this end 19 to lock the handle 16 securedto the bolt 17 and socket member 8. The central bore 22 may be used tohold a brad awl 23 or similar tool, having a T head adapted to turn itor shaped to rotate the nuts 20 and 21.

The handle constructions of Figures 2, 3, 5, 6 and 11 are identical withthat shown in Figure 1 and the corresponding parts thereof are similarlynumbered.

Figure 2shows a hack saw frame 2% provided with a saw controlling plug25 detachably secured to a handle 16.

Figure 3 illustrates the invention as applied to a soldering iron 26which has the end of its red 27 shaped to form a plug fitting the socket8. The bore 22 in this case may be used as a conduit for electric wires28 and 29 which may be fixed to the plug end of the rod 27. Aninsulating cap 30 may be fixed in any suitable manner to the end ofhandle 16 ifdesired.

In Figure 5 the handle 16 is shown as detachably secured to a 90 degreeelbow plug 31 which is integrally or otherwise secured to a trowel orother blade 32.

Figures 6 and 7 show a handle member 16 secured to 90 degree socketmember 33 having its socket 34-, identical in shape with socket 7,adapted to receive the corresponding plug end 35 of a rod 36 which. maybe a mere extension rod, or which may form a handle of any kind.

In Figure 8 a handle member 37 is axially bored to receive a hollow bolt38; similar to the bolt 17 and having a socket member 8 secured toreceive the corresponding plug end of rods 39 or 40.

In the screw driver shown in Figure 9, the handle 16 provided at one endwith a metal ferrule or cap 41; and at its other end is secured to along socket member 4-2 in which a screwdriver blade 43 may be reversiblysecured. In this case the inner end of the screw driver is provided witha gimlet or brad awl 1 1 which may be brought into use by reversing thescrewdriver in the socket.

Figure 11 illustrates the handle as applied to an adjustable Wrench 45,which has its end 46 formed as a plug to fit the socket members 8 or 33.

Figures 12 and 13 illustrate the various combinations which can be madeupwith the handles shown in Figures 1 and 8, the straight and 90 degreesocket members, and

1,731,38zi V g suitable rods 47 formed at each end to fit and be securedto the sockets of members 8 and 33. lVhile I have described the handleas made of wood, it must not be-considered as limited to manufacture ofthis material, since it may be made of ebonite, hard rubber or any otheritable material adapted to fit and protect the hand of the user of thetools.

I claim 1. In a convertible socket wrench, an intermediate sleeve havingninety degree sockets detachably secured to each end thereof, a handlehaving a ninety degree socket atone end thereof, a rod seated in thelast named socket and in one of said sockets, and a fourth socketdetachably secured to the other of said sockets.

2. A wrench comprising three sleeves having wrench sockets detach-ablysecured to each end thereof, and connecting rods detachably connected tothesockets at both ends of one of said sleeves and to a socket LEW KOEN.

